Today during Health Questions in Parliament, local MP Lucy Allan questioned the Minister of State for Health Stephen Barclay MP about the management of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust in light of the proposed overnight closure of the A&E at Princess Royal Hospital.
Lucy Allan mentioned the fact that the Chief Executive of Wolverhampton Hospital Trust had gone on record to say that the closure at Telford is the result of bad planning and could have been prevented.
Ms Allan asked the Minister if he agreed with her that it is unacceptable that the safety of Telford residents safety was put at risk by a preventable closure which is the result of bad planning by management. She also asked the Minister to do all he can to ensure that hospital management have the help they need to properly run the hospital and properly plan for the needs of the community.
Responding Minister Stephen Barclay said:
“I pay tribute to the honourable lady who has campaigned assiduously on behalf of her constituents. She has lobbied me and the Secretary of State and has made her case very powerfully to NHS leaders.
“There has been progress, 3 additional consultants have been had and there have been attempts from neighbouring trusts to recruit Middle Grade Doctors to the Trust.
“We are making a significant capital investment into the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust and these changes must be seen in light of that.”
Lucy Allan said:
“Had the management of the Trust planned for the future of our A&E, this overnight closure could have been prevented.
“The management are facing one crisis after another and need help. It is vital that the Trust is put into Special Measures now to ensure that they get the help and resources they need to efficiently run our hospital. The management has created a serious and costly crisis which could have been prevented and they should be held to account.”